A 57-YEAR-OLD invalid man suffered a broken cheekbone after he was battered unconscious by a gang of around 50 youths.

Alan Jones, 57, needs surgery to rebuild his face after he was attacked outside his house in Broadgreen by an angry mob of boys and girls.

Today detectives described the vicious assault as "cowardly" and said it was a miracle he was not more seriously injured.

The attack happened on Friday evening shortly after 8pm when a neighbour alerted Mr Jones that a mob had gathered at the back of his house.

He went through his garage and opened the door to ask the youths, aged between 14 and 16, to move on.

Mr Jones, a toolmaker, said: "I chose my words carefully so as not to sound too aggressive.I have sliding doors on my garage and one of the boys must have been at the other end and pushed the door against my head."

Father-of-two Mr Jones, who suffered a stroke ten years ago, then fell to the ground and was punched and kicked repeatedly.

His ordeal eventually ended but only after he suffered a broken cheekbone and serious cuts and bruises to his head and face.

He added: "The whole ordeal was very frightening. I just remember a silence when I was being kicked and punched over and over again.

"I would say to their parents that this is what their children are up to behind their backs. How would they like it?

"Although I need surgery I do feel very lucky indeed. I could have been much more seriously injured."

After his attack, he was taken to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and then transferred to Aintree Hospitals.

Police hunting the gang say some of the girls seemed to know Mr Jones and were aware of his invalidity. He struggles to walk and cannot use his right hand.

DC Julie Milburn said: "This was a cowardly, unprovoked attack on a man who was simply trying to defend his property. We would appeal to some of the gang themselves, especially the girls, who may not have been involved, to come forward."

Anyone with information about the assault can contact police on 0151 777 4565/4 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.